The criticism comes as von der Leyen faces a challenge growing rebellion from Spanish socialists from Sánchez’s partywhich is an important part of his main coalition in the European Parliament. Senior MPs last week condemned comments from the president of the Commission in which he declared “Europe can no longer be the guardian of the old world order, for a world that has passed and will not return.”
Representatives for von der Leyen declined to comment.
Von der Leyen has weighed her criticism of the United States and Israel, saying that the Iranian regime deserves to fall but calling for diplomatic solutions to the conflict. The president of the European Commission used his State of the Union address in September to say he would freeze bilateral payments to Israel and impose sanctions on “extremist ministers.”
Spain will hold parliamentary elections by August next year at the latest, and von der Leyen’s far-right European People’s Party hopes to take control of the government – with its nationalist partner, the Partido Popular, consistently polling ahead of Sánchez’s socialists.
Borrell also took into account the dilemma of the European Union on how to open 90 billion Euros in much-needed funds for Ukraine after Hungary and Slovakia opposed the plan at the last minute, after asking Kyiv to repair the pipeline carrying Russian oil to their countries through the territory of Ukraine. The two governments, he said, “clearly violated the principle of sincere cooperation which is part of the Treaties” by rejecting their agreement.
“This is a matter for the Court. The other 25 can offer a bridge loan until the EU loan is approved,” Borrell said, dismissing it. an aversion to the charisma used by the current leadership of the camp.
Von der Leyen’s representatives declined to comment, while Kallas’ representatives did not immediately respond.
